Cod War! Gavin Williamson readies the gunboats to protect British fish after Brexit

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Britain has taken delivery of state-of-the-art gunboats to protect our fishing waters from the EU and others after Brexit, the defence secretary has announced.

Gavin Williamson said the vessels will “stand ready” as he unveiled the first of five £116m ships which will form part of the Royal Navy Fishery Protection Squadron.

The Ministry of Defence said the boats will become the Royal Navy’s “eyes and ears” around the UK, helping to safeguard fishing stocks.

HMS Forth is the first of five from the Batch 2 River-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) production line, built by BAE systems in Scotland. As well being designed for fishery protection, it will form part of the defence against smuggling...